Lent begins with Ash Wednesday, when we are called to hone our attention on our own frailty and deep need of God’s mercy and loving care. One of the best ways we can do this is by drawing close to God in simple, candid prayer.
This week we share the stories of two women whose lives have been powerfully reshaped and renewed by just this kind of heartfelt prayer. In the lead-up to this Sunday’s Rite of Election, catechumen Samantha Whittaker tells us how she rediscovered the God of Mercy, and how it ignited her prayer life. And Mary Brockhoff shares the story of her miraculous, prayer-fuelled recovery from the cardiac arrest that stopped her heart for 17 minutes and, remarkably, brought her and her family closer to God.
Project Compassion 2024 launched on Shrove Tuesday, reminding us that our deep need of God’s mercy is not just individual but global, and that each of us is ‘called, chosen and sent’ to be conduits of God’s love as we serve those in need.
As we ready ourselves for Lent, there are signs everywhere in the life of our Church of the liberation, vitality and healing that comes when we abandon ourselves to our loving God. Last weekend, the Sudanese community came together in parishes across Melbourne to celebrate the inspiring life and witness of their patron St Josephine Bakhita; similarly, the Croatian community honoured the mercy and courage of Blessed Aloysius Stepinac; and more than a thousand gathered for the annual Lourdes Day Mass, where the sick and infirm were encouraged to ‘go to the spring’ of God’s healing, life-giving love.
You can find lots more stories below on what’s been happening in the Archdiocese of Melbourne and beyond, or you can visit the Melbourne Catholic news and stories page or follow us on Facebook. To connect with people and events across the Archdiocese, check out our events page for what’s coming up soon.
